BLACKBURN Rovers fans are being offered the chance to ‘get up close and personal’ with manager Sam Allardyce – as well as helping to raise money for an excellent cause.

The club are staging ‘An Audience With Big Sam’ at Ewood Park on Thursday (April 2), with all proceeds from the event going to the Blackburn Rovers Disabled Supporters Association.

This is a fantastic opportunity for Rovers supporters to gain a real insight into ‘Big Sam’ and what makes him tick; his philosophies on management; how he prepares the team for matchdays; what his plans are for the future, etc, etc.

Radio Lancashire’s Andy Bayes will compere the evening, and fans will get the chance to put their questions direct to Sam as part of an open forum.

Simon Williams, head of Commercial and Marketing at Rovers, said: “We’ve staged a number of these events in the past and they’ve always proved immensely popular with our supporters.

“It’s a unique opportunity for the fans to meet the manager and put any questions they have to him in person.”

Tickets for the event, which starts at 7.30pm in the Premier Suite, cost just £5 and are strictly limited, so fans are asked to book early to avoid disappointment.

All money raised on the night will then be donated to the Blackburn Rovers Disabled Supporters Club (BRDSC), which is a non-profit making voluntary organisation that helps to further the interests of disabled football supporters.

As well as arranging social events like the Player of the Year evening, BRDSC help to make a difference to people's lives by arranging visits to away matches using the specially adapted minibus, driven by voluntary drivers.

Heather Hook, whose 16-year-old son, Alex, uses the Disabled Supporters’ minibus to go to away games, said: “Travelling to away matches independently with his friend has opened up a whole new world for Alex and helped him enormously.

“He gets time away from the family to support the Rovers and we get peace of mind knowing that he will be well looked after.”

To book tickets call 0871 222 1444 or visit www.onerovers.co.uk